Apparatus for producing containers



c. w. HINLE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToR.

BYLW, 40W

,qUe/mfr@ Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 C. W. HEINLE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS Jan. 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 29, 1945 INVENTOR.

HYD@l^ u` Q Z A T TOE/VEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1951 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS Carl W. Heinle, East Orange, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,281

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for producing containers or cans having reclosure covers and has particular reference to forming locking lugs on an end seam of a can for holding the reclosure cover in place thereon.

An object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for forming cover locking lugs on the end seam of a can adapted to carry a reclosure cover wherein the end seam is formed with a laterally displaced portion projecting beyond the normal contour of the seam and providing a locking lug for engagement with the cover when the latter is rotated to hold it in place on the can as a reclosure.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus wherein the locking lugs are formed in the end seam simultaneously with the forming of the seam so that extra steps with their attendant increase in the cost of production are eliminated.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus wherein locking lugs of any desired shape may he readily and quickly formed on the end seam oi a can for locking a reclosure cover or other can part or for drawing such a can part down tightly on a container during relative rotation or the parts, er for many other purposes wherein it is desired to temporarily hold two can parts together.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective sectional View taken through the upper end of a sealed can and its reclosure cover, the can having locking lugs formed.

in accordance with the steps of the instant method invention Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the reclosure cover removed from the can;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the ton of the can and showing the end seam and one of the cover loclring lugs;

Fig. i is a sectional detail showing a portion of a can and a portion of an end member in assembled position prior to being secured together;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the broken line E-li in Fig. 2 and showing the nished end seam which secures the end member to the can, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a side View of an apparatus for forming the end seam and the locking lugs in accordance with the steps of the instant method invention, with parts broken away;

Fig, 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken substantially along a horizontal plane indicated by the line '5 7 in Fig. 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional details of portions of the can and the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, with parts broken away and parts in different positions incidental to producing the end seam and the locking lugs; and

Fig. 10 is a part side view and part sectional View of a modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, with parts broken away.

As a preferred and a modied embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate an apparatus for securing a sheet metal end member A (Figs. l, 2 and 3) to a sheet metal can body B by an interfolding or" ange portions of these can parts in a multiple layer compound lined, double seam C while simultaneously forming circumferentially spaced inwardly projecting locking lugs D on the seam for holding in place on the can a reclosure cover E having a corresponding number of outwardly projecting interrupted thread protuberances F.

The can body B preferably is a cylindrical tubular member formed at its upper end with a iiange G (Fig. 4). The end member A is adapted to iit within the open end of the body member and for this purpose is formed with a countersunk panel Wall or annulus H having a centrally located dispensing opening J. The outer edge of this annulus merges into an upright inner wall section K which engages against the inside surface of the body member when the end member is in place.

` The upper edge of the inner wall section K merges Ail) into a horizontal iiange L which extends outwardly over the flange G oi the body member and terminates .in a curled edge M. The ange L preferably carries Va sealing gasket N of compound or the like material.

In accordance with the invention, the end member A is inserted within the end of the tubular body member B with its iiange L overlying and engaging against the flange G of the body member, as shown in Fig. 4. While these flange parts are in this position they are interfolded to produce the multiple layer, compound lined, hermetic double seam C which permanently unites the end member A to the body member B as best shown in Fig. 5. During the formation of this seam, portions of its two inner layers, adjacent the countersink of the end member and at spaced intervals along the seam, are extruded or projected inwardly beyond the normal contour of the The locking lugs D projectinwardly fromthe seam C a uniform distance to make them of even thickness, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3'; The under portion of each lug is formedwith aflocking node O which merges into a tapered interrupted thread surface P, thus imparting tothe7 lugs awedgek shape for cooperation with the interrupted thread sections or protuberances F on the cover E whenV the cover is applied to and partially rotated on thecam The tapered section P terminates in asecondV locking node Q. These preferably areV four of these locking lugs D spaced at equal intervals along the seam C and four' protuberances F on thecoverito correspond with these lugs',A although any number' of lugs and prctuberances may be usedras desired.'V

The reclosure cover EY maybe of any desired form having a countersunk panel R (Fig. 1)'

andfan inner upright wall section S in whichthe outwardly-extending protuberances F are disposed. Such a cover may beapplied by-insertionv into thel countersinkofthe end member-A and is `locked inplacey under theI locking lugs `D by a slightforpartal rotation' or"I the'inserted cover;

Preferably'i the =cover is formed with an outerA channel Tcontaining a hermetic Ysealing gasket U'for engagementagainst the top ofthe double seamC when the cover is in placeto hermetically seal the can'.

Forming of the double seam C and the locking;k lugs D duringthe securing of the end member A` onto the can body member B is brought about preferably in a closing machine of suit-V able'type;v The drawings illustrate by way of a simple" example, a type'of machine disclosed in United States Patent 1,173,329,r issued February 29, 1916, to L. N. Trudeau, on-CanCrimping Machine, principal parts of which are shown in Fig. 6;y

Infsuch an apparatus the can body member B Vwith' its end` member'AV superimposed thereon, asv shownfin- Fig. 4,- is supported on a rotatable lifter pad 2l- (Fig. 6) mounted on the upper endofa-verticalstem 22 carried ina bearing` 23'for'med-on a frame 24 which may constitute" the Imai-n frameof vthe machine: The stem 22 and th'eelifterpad 2l v connected therewith-may be`- raised'and' lowered by-an-y lsuitable vmeans;

When the can is in raised positionlits upper end-"engageslagainst a rotatable chuck or Achuck mold 2711' Thischuck is mounted on the `lower end oa-vertical shaft 2Bwhich is journaled in a bearing'ZSB formed onthefframe 24; The upper end ofs the'sha-ft' carries'a driving gear 3l which maybe-rotated hr any suitable manner. gear'rotates the chuck and thus rotates the can body. and: itssuperimpos'ed end member through fric'ti'onal venga'gement with the latter.

The chucklE-'ts down into the countersinkv of thefendmember Aand engages the annulus H for holding the flange L of the end member tightlyl against the 'ange G of the body member for peripheral edge of the chuck engages the upright inner wall section K, the outside diameter of the chuck being dimensioned to snugly fit into the end member. This backs up the wall section K of the end member and the side wall of the body during the seaming operation.

The interfolding of the flange parts G, L of the body'and thev end memberu respectively, to produce Ythe double seam` C is'feffected preferably by a conventional seaming roller 35 which is disposed adjacent the chuck 21. There may be one ormore such rollers, such as rst and second operation rollers and they may be incorporated in a rotating orstationary head as desired. However, in order to 'simplify the disclosure only one-` such roller is shown in the drawings and this is mounted onthe. inner end of a reciprocable slide 36 carried in the frame 24 as disclosedin the above mentioned Trudeau patent. The slide is actuated in any suitable manner to move in against the flange partsLG, L of the rotating/can body andzend member: and thusv interfc'ld these flange parts and press the interfolded partsinwardly against the chuck 21 to produce the dou--v ble seam Cas the can rotates;

The locking lugs D are formedor molded simultaneously with'the. formationof the double` seamC as hereinbefore mentioned.. Where the shape of the locking lugs permits, they'are formed by mold recesses provided in the edge of thev chuckA 21 proper;

this procedure and `in that event the moldrecesses may be formed in loose pieces carriedJin the4 chuck '.mold';

In. the instantzcasa. the ,-lockingf-l'ugsgD arecof;` the-lettertypeinwhich they yare `best formedY by;l mold recesses provided in loosezpieces carried in-v the. chuck'. Forithis purpose the chuck 2l is provided with a plurality of forming. dies or lingers 38 (Figs. 6 andi?) arranged at spaced intervals around the'chuckl in accordance withv the desired' position of the lugs on the double seam. Each die finger is disposed in a horizontal. channel or cavity-.391` formed in the bottom of the chuck, the depth 0f the channel and the thickness of" the iingerbeing preferably thefull thickness ofthe outer edge of the chuck.

The `outer edge of each forming nger 38 'is flush. with the outer peripheral edge of the chuck to. provide, with the chuck, a smooth backing up surface for the can parts. This outer edge of each nger 38 is formed with Ya mold recess 4I to core respond with the desired shape of 'the lug to be formed. In the instant case these recesses feature or'inclu'de' the locking nodes O and Q andthe intervening tapered locking surface P; of Athelockaing-flugs 1D..

which is housed in' ar bea1ing"recess'44 inthe chuck so that the nger can pivot or rock down--Y wardly. Fig; 9.

This downward position is shown in Hence when the seaming roller 35 presses theV interfolded flange parts of the body and the end member, inwardly against the chuck 21 toxform the doubleseam C, theseam is compressed slightly lessV at the mold recesses di than at the other portions of Ythev chuck. These recesses permit the two inner layers-ofthe seam to flow or be forced under pressure as in an extruding or a molding operation and thereby extend inwardly of or beyond the normal con-tour of the seam to produce ther locking lugs D.- 'The lugs take the formi' or However, the shape of the lockinglugs sometimes do not lend themselves'tof shape of the finger recesses l and therefore may be made of any desired shape or size by the proper dimensions of the recesses.

After such a seam and lug forming or molding operation, the seaming roller 35i is retracted from its operating position and the chuck 2'! is withdrawn from the countersunk end member, this latter being effected by a lowering of the seamed can and the lifter plate 2l to their original positions. During this can lowering operation, the forming fingers 3E hinge downwardly on their pivots i3 with the can as best shown in Fig. 9. This hinging action of the fingers releases them from the newly formed locking lugs D on the can and thus permits the can to be freely removed from the chuck 2l without any interference from the formed or inwardly pressed lugs D.

A modied form of the seaming mechanism is illustrated in Fig. l0. In this modified form, the

chuck 2i is formed on the lower end of a vertical sleeve 5i which is journaled in the bearing 29 of the frame 2li. The driving gear 3| is carried on the upper end of the sleeve and thus rotates the chuck through this sleeve connection.

Backing up of the end member inner wall section K and the body B during the seam and lug forming operation is effected by a plurality of horizontal or radially positioned die members or slides 52. These slides are formed with side tongues 53 which operate in horizontal slideways 54 formed in the chuck 27. The outer edges of the slides correspond with the described forming finger recesses il which in turn are shaped in accordance with the desired configuration of lugs D to be formed on the end member A.

The outer edges of the die elements or slides 52 are flush with the outer peripheral edge of the chuck as in the preferred form. The inner ends of the slides are formed respectively with a tapered cam surface 55 and with an adjacent upright lug 56 which is engaged by a compression spring 5'! located in a bore 5a in the chuck. The springs hold the cam surfaces 55 of the slides 52 in engagement with a conical cam 59 located centrally of the chuck El'. The cam 59 is formed f on the lower end of a vertical actuating rod Si. The rod extends up through the chuck sleeve 5| and is reciprocated vertically at the proper time in any suitable manner to radially retract and expand the slides 52.

Hence when the chuck 2i is to be withdrawn from the countersunk end member A after a seaming and lug forming operation, the actuating rod 6| is first moved down a sufficient distance to permit the springs 51 to shift the slides inwardly so that their outer ends are clear of the inwardly pressed lugs D on the double seam C. With the slides in this position the chuck may be freely withdrawn from the end member, the lugs D passing down through the space between the outer ends of slideways 513 without interference with the chuck. When the chuck is completely removed from the can, the actuating rod 6| is shifted upwardly and this pushes the slides outwardly into their normal positions with their outer ends flush with the outer edge of the chuck for a subsequent seaming and lug forming operation.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus described herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the apparatus hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for securing an annular end member having a peripheral flange thereon to an end of a container body while simultaneously forming inwardly projecting cover locking lugs on said end member, comprising a chuck for snugly engaging within said end member to hold the latter on said container body, said chuck having peripherally spaced cavities in its outer wall surface, a lug forming finger mounted for movement into operative and inoperative position in each chuck cavity and having a mold recess on its outer exposed surface and an adjacent outer peripheral wall portion disposed flush with the periphery of said chuck when the finger is in extended operative position, said ngers being moved into operative position by engagement with the annular` end member, and a seaming roller engageable with the outer peripheral surface of the chuck held end member for bending its said flange inwardly into folded relation with the container body end to form an end seam therebetween, said seaming roller forcing peripherally spaced portions of said seam during formation thereof into the finger mold recesses to form said inwardly projecting cover locking lugs of double thickness on the inner Wall of said seam, each lug conforming in shape to the conguration of its adjacent nger mold recess, the subsequent separation of the container body from said chuck permitting said fingers to move inwardly to inoperative position to provide clearance between said fingers and said formed lugs.

2. An apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the lug forming fingers are pivotally mounted on transverse axes in the chuck cavities and move by gravity to inoperative position when the seamed container body having the formed lugs thereon is separated from the chuck.

CARL W. HEINLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 611,632 Hoffman et al Oct. 4, 1898 770,948 Adriance et al Sept.. 27, 1904 1,709,196 Snyder Apr. 16, 1929 1,774,809 Muhlbach Sept. 2, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 142,967 Great Britain May 20, 1920 

